Emeralds

Emeralds is a new, intimate collection of stunning crystals, gemstones, and jewelry on display in the <a href="https://hmnh.harvard.edu/earth-planetary-sciences-gallery">Earth &amp; Planetary Sciences Gallery</a>.  Highly coveted by a wide variety of cultures, emeralds have played a significant role in shaping human history, helping to facilitate trade and even build empires. From rough stones to sophisticated jewelry, emeralds continue to captivate with their beauty and historical significance, symbolizing luxury and power across cultures and eras. While emeralds are rare, they can be found in countries throughout the world, including Colombia, Madagascar, and Egypt, to name a few. Emeralds formed inside rocks millions of years ago. Those from South Africa are known to be about 2.9 billion years old, while Colombian emeralds date back over 48 million years! The unique characteristics of emeralds provide valuable insights into the processes that formed them. With the use of new AI technologies, scientists are making major advances in unraveling their stories and tracing their origins. Photo: Metamorphosis. Brooch created by Wallace Chan. Emerald 16 pcs 52.44 tcw. Diamond, Ruby, Amethyst, Citrine, Blue Topaz, Crystal, Butterfly Wings, Mother of Pearl, Tsavorite Garnet, Sapphire, Yellow Diamond, 18K. White Gold, Titanium. On loan from George and Sherry Huang Collection

Harvard Museum of Natural History

Meet a Scientist 

Come see the world through the eyes of a scientist! Meet Harvard scientists, ask them your questions, and discover what their research reveals about life, our planet, and our universe. Learn about microbes that breathe rock, fungi that can turn flies into zombies, and more. This event is appropriate for children and adults of all ages. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture Photo © Tony Rinaldo

The Daily Lives of Ancient Egyptian Artists

Advance registration recommended for <a href="https://forms.office.com/r/KUTeSUyvC8">in-person</a> and <a href="https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7mpkHG7cRQ2pvoyPRL45-A">online</a> attendance Hana Navratilova, Fellow, Royal Historical Society, UK; Supernumerary Fellow, University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College Jaroslav Černý (1898–1970) was a distinguished Egyptologist known for his groundbreaking work on the social and cultural history of ancient Egypt, particularly the community of artisans at Deir el-Medina, a village near the Valley of the Kings. His research on ostraca (pottery sherds and limestone flakes bearing written inscriptions) and Theban “graffiti” texts is fundamental for understanding the daily lives, literacy, administration, and religious practices of ancient Egyptian artisans. In this lecture, Hana Navratilova will explore Černý’s lifelong research at Deir el-Medina, his groundbreaking studies of texts, artifacts, and the Western Theban landscape, and his indelible mark on twentieth-century Egyptology. Free admission. Free event parking at<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1"> the 52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. Presented by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture. Photo: Detail of Ipuy and Wife Receive Offerings from Their Children (substantially restored), facsimile (tempera on paper) by Norman de Garis Davies (1865–1941); Rogers Fund, 1930, 30.4.114; The Metropolitan Museum of Art <a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en">CC0</a> The original is from Deir el-Medina, New Kingdom, Ramesside,Dynasty: Dynasty 19, Reign: reign of Ramesses II, ca. 1279–1213 B.C.E. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/9297849660326698">Share the Facebook event</a>

Geological Lecture Hall

Amazing Archaeology Fair at Harvard

Venture on archaeological expeditions around the world in this annual event for all ages. Talk with archaeologists who study ancient Egyptians, Incas, prehistoric peoples, and others. Try ancient cuneiform writing and use an app that animates detailed wall art in Assyrian palaces. Discover cave art made by Neanderthals and other early humans, and learn how mummies’ names reveal secrets of Egyptian “tomb recycling.” Discover these and other surprises during this popular event. Regular museum admission rates apply. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1351593716201382">Share the Facebook event</a> <a href="https://tinyurl.com/AmazingArchFair">https://tinyurl.com/AmazingArchFair</a> <a href="https://tinyurl.com/IncreibleArqueologiaHarvard">https://tinyurl.com/IncreibleArqueologiaHarvard</a>

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Science Spotlights: Your Brain | Some Like It Hot 

Meet up-and-coming scientists and learn about questions at the forefront of research today in this series of short talks. 2:00–2:30 pm Highways and Cars in Your Brain Did you know that some neurons can stretch nearly a meter long? They also can transport materials a thousand times smaller than a human hair. These long cells form your nervous system, carrying signals that let you think, move, and feel. How do they maintain their structure and move cargo across such vast distances? Join Harvard PhD graduate student Mara Casebeer of the Needleman Lab to explore the dynamic transport system inside neurons, where microtubules act as highways and motor proteins as tiny cars, keeping your brain running smoothly. 3:00–3:30 pm&nbsp; Some Like it Hot …But Why? Just like us, animals have different personalities. From dogs and octopuses to tiny fruit flies, individuality is everywhere in the animal kingdom. For example, some flies may prefer warmer temperatures to colder ones, or turning in one direction over another. Why do these differences exist? And why does evolution keep them around? Join Harvard graduate student Shraddha Lall of the de Bivort Lab as she investigates these big questions and delves into the world of animal behavior. 20-minute talks followed by 10-minute Q&amp;A session. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Regular museum admission rates apply. Presented by the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture

ArtsThursdays: Ancient Game Night

Join us for a free night of friendly competition at the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. Come with a date, come with friends, or make new friends while strolling through the galleries.  <ul><li>Explore the galleries of the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East</li><li>Learn to play the ancient board games Royal Game of Ur, Senet, and al-qirkat</li><li>Bring ancient relief sculptures to life with the augmented-reality app: <a href="https://hmane.harvard.edu/stone-silicone">Art of Intimidation: Journey to Ancient Assyria</a> </li><li>Create a clay medallion inscribed with your own personalized cuneiform symbol</li><li>Enjoy beverages available for purchase (a valid government ID required to consume alcohol)</li><li>Enter a free raffle to win museum gifts and membership</li></ul>Free and open to the public. Let us know you are coming! RSVPs are encouraged, but walk-in visitors are always welcome. Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/artsthursdays/">ArtsThursdays</a> is a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1470766870564844">Share the Facebook event</a>

Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East

ArtsThursdays: The Power and Bias of Measurements

How have measuring systems shaped our understanding of people and the world? How can art help us grasp the complex legacies of such systems? The new exhibition Measuring Difference at the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments explores how seemingly objective measurements have historically functioned as tools of authority and bias, particularly during colonial encounters in the Americas. <ul><li>Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez, Artist</li><li>Pablo F. Gómez, Associate Professor in the Department of Medical History and Bioethics, and the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin, Madison</li><li>Gabriela Soto Laveaga, Professor of the History of Science; Antonio Madero Professor for the Study of Mexico, Harvard University</li></ul>In this interdisciplinary conversation blending history, science, and art, Pablo&nbsp;Gómez, Gabriela Soto Laveaga, and Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez will examine Euroamerican measuring systems and their role in constructing racial hierarchies and power structures that persist in Latin America and the United States today. By tracing the history of measuring human bodies—from its roots in the transatlantic slave trade to its lasting influence on modern perceptions of race and identity—and by exploring art that addresses the complexities of multi-layered identities resulting from colonial legacies, this program invites participants to see, understand, and challenge the biases embedded in the measuring systems that shape our modern world. Visit <a href="https://chsi.harvard.edu/exhibitions/measuring_difference">Measuring Difference</a> at the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments (1 Oxford Street) for free from 5:00–6:00 pm or after the program from 7:00–8:30 pm. (Please note that the Harvard Museum of Natural History &amp; the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology will not be open during this event). Free event parking at the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1">52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. Presented by the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.drclas.harvard.edu/">David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies</a>.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.harvard.edu/artsthursdays/">ArtsThursdays</a> is a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts. Photos courtesy Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez and Pablo F. Gómez Advance registration recommended for <a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpVwaEfAvKIKRHjDqup5ZqIVNUQkk5NTlVN1RFNkxWNzAyVFM1RUg5QVhQRy4u">in-person</a> and <a href="https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N8c4glgYS7CWul9BuvMcyg">online </a>attendance

Harvard University Science Center Bldg, Hall A

Worshiping the Ancestors in Egypt’s Tell Edfu

Nadine Moeller, Professor of Egyptology, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Yale University Tell Edfu, in southern Egypt, is an ancient Egyptian city that was occupied for nearly 3,000 years. This lecture explores recent discoveries at Tell Edfu, focusing on an elite residential complex from around 1550 BCE. Among the highlights is a large villa containing a rare and well-preserved example of a domestic shrine dedicated to family ancestors. Nadine Moeller will discuss the objects found in the shrine and their significance in private religious practices of the time. She will also provide an overview of other buildings from the same period—including a food production facility, further enriching our understanding of daily life in early New Kingdom Tell Edfu. Free admission. Free event parking at<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/52+Oxford+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02138/@42.3801643,-71.1153065,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e37740b4804b09:0x1ca7c4a4324b1694!8m2!3d42.3801643!4d-71.1153065!16s%2Fg%2F11c2133ff1"> the 52 Oxford Street Garage</a>. Presented by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. Advance registration recommended for <a href="https://forms.office.com/r/StQeejer0S">in-person</a> and <a href="https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_laY6YmU5Q-a-R0UBcRRoMg#/registration">online</a> attendance Photo © Alberto Urcia, Tell Edfu Project <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/3424434477865471">Share the Facebook event</a>

Writing in Maya Glyphs: Teen Saturdays Workshop

<a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/writing-maya-glyphs-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Writing in Maya Glyphs: Teen Saturdays Workshop</a> Saturday, February 8, 1:00–3:30 pm <a href="https://reservations.hmsc.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?EventID=9">Advance registration required</a> Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge Join us at Harvard’s Peabody Museum for an exciting journey into the world of ancient Maya civilization! This engaging workshop invites teens, ages 13–18, to uncover the mysteries of Maya hieroglyphs, one of history's most beautiful and complex writing systems. Participants will delve into the remarkable achievements of the Maya people, including their advances in architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. Through interactive and hands-on activities, teens will practice writing simple sentences in Maya glyphs and learn how to interpret names and places as the ancient Maya did. Teen Saturday Workshops are offered bilingually in Spanish and English. They are designed to build community and improve the museum experience for multicultural teens. Snacks provided! $10 fee includes free admission to all HMSC museums following the workshop. Teens receive a membership worth $100 after attending three or more Teen Saturday Workshops per semester. Or, receive a free admission pass (worth $15) for a return visit if you attend one of the four sessions.<ul><li>February 8: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/writing-maya-glyphs-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Writing Maya Glyphs</a> </li><li>March 8: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/divine-maya-cacao-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Divine Maya Cacao</a> </li><li>April 12: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/inside-the-temple-of-murals-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Inside the Temple of Murals</a> </li><li>May 17: <a href="https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/cochineal-red-teen-saturdays-workshop/">Cochineal Red</a> </li></ul>Presented by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. Photo: SL Photography-<a href="https://stock.adobe.com/in/">stock.adobe.com</a>

Free Museum Admission on Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Join us for Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture. The Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology and the Harvard Museum of Natural History are offering free admission all day. Additionally, guests can enjoy free Peabody Museum Tours by Harvard students that connect visitors with cultural items in the museum’s care and provide examples of how the museum engages with Indigenous communities today. Indigenous Peoples’ Day tours meet in the Peabody Museum lobby at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm and last approximately 45 minutes. Learn more about <a href="https://peabody.harvard.edu/groups-and-tours">Peabody Museum tours</a>. Free admission is offered courtesy of Harvard Museums of Science &amp; Culture in partnership with the Peabody Museum of Archaeology &amp; Ethnology, Harvard University Native American Program, and the Harvard Kennedy School Project on Indigenous Governance and Development

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

afiakhan

Experiences